Date:         Thu, 21 Nov 2002 23:10:05 -0800
Reply-To:     Aaron Robinson <kleinboy@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Aaron Robinson <kleinboy@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Clutch going....going...gone?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I just was driving the van today and I think that the clutch is going
out. I've never experienced (at least since I was 15) and want to make
sure before I decide wether to attempt tear into things.

Symptoms:
While driving today, it became difficult to get into any gears. I was
at the DMV and when I got out, I couldn't get it into gear with the
engine running. The clutch pedal feels the same, so I don't think it's
a master/slave/hydraulic problem, but that's just a guess. To get home
I had to start it in gear, then match the RPM's to the gearing to
shift. It wasn't too bad, but not something that I'd want to do
frequently.

So my questions are

1) Is it most likely the clutch -- or is there something else I should
check?
2) How difficult is putting in a new clutch? (any web pages devoted to
it?)

I swapped the tranny once before, so that should be possible to pull
that again, but it's not going to be fun here at Washington State
Umiversity in Eastern WA. I miss a garage!

Thanks!
Aaron
   '85 Sunroof van with 280,000 miles.